£30,000 grant for heritage arts project

Young people in Wiltshire have received more than £30,000 to explore the iconic white horses and chalk hill figures in the county as part of a new project called Virtual Landscapes.

Wiltshire Council has recently been awarded £30,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project which will take place in four locations in Wiltshire.

Led by young people aged 11 to 25 from Tidworth, Ludgershall, Pewsey and Westbury, it will focus on the heritage of the figures in the county.

There are chalk hill figures dotted across the UK but Wiltshire is unique in being home to eight white horses dating from ancient to modern day, as well as a range of 20th century military badges across the landscape. The project looks at why they are important to young people in Wiltshire and their significance for military communities.

The young people will use storytelling and reworking old media and archives to bring new life to the figures from the landscape around them.

Stuart Wheeler, cabinet member for culture, said: “It’s brilliant we have received this lottery funding to help young people from the county learn all about the heritage, history and significance of these recognisable landmarks.”

The council’s arts service is working with Wiltshire Youth Arts Partnership (WYAP) and the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre to deliver this project.